Three years after my husband Charles died in a tragic accident, I thought I’d found love again with Jacob. He was kind, patient, and adored my daughter, Maggie. When we married two months ago, I believed we were finally healing.

Then one night, Maggie whispered, “New-Dad asked me to keep a secret.” My heart pounded. She explained that while I was at work, she saw Jacob with a beautiful woman in a red dress—coming out of the basement. He told her not to tell me.

When I confronted Jacob, he laughed it off, claiming she was an interior designer helping him renovate the basement. Later, I checked his social media and found a picture of him with the same woman—years before we met. Suspicious, I installed hidden cameras and pretended to leave for a work trip.

That night, the camera caught Jacob kissing the woman in our basement. Furious, I raced home and confronted him. The woman scoffed, revealing their ten-year affair. Jacob had used me for my house and money.

I kicked them both out and dumped his belongings at a construction site. The next day, I took Maggie for ice cream.

“You did the right thing telling me the truth, sweetheart,” I told her.

She smiled. “I didn’t like New-Dad that much anyway.”

Jacob was gone, but I realized—I didn’t need him. I had my daughter, my home, and the strength to build a better future.

Sometimes, losing the wrong person makes room for the life you truly deserve.